CD-RW, DVD+R/RW, WTF???

[Carbo]

OK. Right from the start I admit to being way behind the learning curve when it comes to all this high tech PC stuff. That's why I come here. I've decided it's time to retire the 4 year old Gateway and build myself a new rig. As I am researching various components to buy and install, it hit me that I have no clue about a number of hardware related issues.
For example, I need to buy some optical drives. In my existing clunker, I have a generic CD/DVD ROM which came with the Gateway. I added a Plextor 12/10/32A CD-RW. I've always used the CD/DVD-ROM to play any music CD's, install software programs, etc. The CD-RW was used only to copy CD's, of course.
But, now, I'm seeing there is a lot more in the way of choices and I don't understand 'em. Can someone tell me what is a typical setup these days? If I go here and look at Plextor's offerings, I don't know which two units I need. I mean, I know what a CD-ROM is. But, what the heck is a DVD+R/RW CD-R/RW drive? Better yet, what is the difference between that and the drive with the plus and the minus sign in the description?
I mean, all I want to do is listen to some music CD's while I'm working in my home office, make the occasional backup CD to cover my ass when my hard drive suddenly becomes a paperweight, and burn a few CD's every now and then.

 

[DannyBoy]

In the simplest possible explanation for you.

DVDR/RW CD-R/RW is a dvd burner & a cd burner, and a cd/dvd player.

You should get a +/- drive that is compatible with both formats (The NEC100A is a good buy)

Thats all you should really need.

If you burn a lot of cd's i recommend you get a faster CD burner as your second optical, as most dvd burners will not burn cd's as fast as other CDRW drives.

I cant really put it much simpler than that.

Dan

 

[Carbo]

Thanks, DannyBoy. Bear with me for another moment.....
What then is the difference between these formats: DVD±R/RW CD-R/RW Drive, and DVD+R/RW CD-R/RW Drive?

 

[egale]

 

[waitman]

 

[waitman]

The DVD+ -Means that it will do both formats, the DVD+R/rw means it will only do the +format. CD-r/rw will do cd's also.

 

[egale]

First there are CDs & DVDs. CDs hold about 700meg while DVDs hold 4.7 gig. Dvds allow you to create movies or store data like a cd but each disk holds a lot more!

Now for the formats.

CD-R - write once CDs
CD-RW - CDs that can be erased and written over. They can also be used to drag and drop data to with packet writing software like INCD or DirectCD. Doing that is unreliable though and I would stay away from it.

DVD-R - This is the format that the original DVD burners used. They say it is the most compatible but I have not had any problems with +Rs. You can burn to it the same way you do a CD-R. The fastest write times right now are 4X.

DVD-RW - Same as DVD-R except disk can be erased and rewritten or written to with packet writing software.

DVD+R - newer format than DVD-R but still compatible with most DVD players. There are some extra features which are better for writing data but the big thing is that writing speeds are now up to 8X. Current media is only 4X but drives like the Plextor 8X will write at 8X on 4x media.

DVD+RW sam e as DVD-R but in +R format.

Many modern DVD burners support all formats. My Plextor does. I use +R exclusively and have not had a problem with any DVD play rejecting my disk. Cost of media is about the same. You are better off getting a drive that will support everything, just in case.

 

[waitman]

 

[Carbo]

egale, thanks for the reply. If I understand you, then, I can go with a setup similar to this:
Plextor PlewWriter Premium for listening to CD's, and installing programs, and the Plextor 708A for copying CD's and DVD's?
Can this second drive also be used for CD and DVD playback?

 

[egale]

The 708A can be used for all those tasks. True for cds it can only burn at 40x instead of 52x but it can play cds, copy cds, install apps, etc. also.

When I copy cds, I never copy on the fly from one drive to the other. That way the image is temporarily stored on my hard drive and I have less of a chance of burning a coaster. But that being said, I do have a 52x burner plus the 708A. The reason is that I replaced my dvd player with the Plextor burner. If I was building new right now, I might not get 2 optical drives. 52x is nice but I don't burn enough that the difference between 40x and 52x will make that much difference.

 

[Carbo]

So, if I understand all this, the 708A can do everything, including reading and playing back CD's. The only difference is that it copies CD's a bit slower than a straight CD-RW. As you say, though, not much of a difference for someone who isn't sitting around burning CD's all day long.
Are you also saying that I can go with this one drive, copy a CD or DVD to my hard drive temporarily, and then copy that file onto either a blank CD or DVD? Thus eliminating the need for two drives? Very cool, indeed.

 

[egale]

Absolutely!!!!!!! You can do it all with the one drive.

 

[Carbo]

Originally posted by: egale
Absolutely!!!!!!! You can do it all with the one drive.

So, what do I do with the money you just saved me?
Thanks, egale. Your help is very much appreciated!

 

[egale]

Now you have lots of spare money for blank DVDs and CDs!

Glad I could help!

 

[helpmeout]

Carbo, I haven't even hit $2.00 on PowerBall in months. If you could spare $20.00 from the money you've saved, I'd split my non-winnings with you.